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Iran says US ceasefire proposal ‘insufficient’ as strikes are reported on Qeshm Island
Developed over time first seen 7 hours ago
Iran said on 3 November that the US response to its ceasefire demands was insufficient, as reports emerged of American strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the strait would not reopen unless Washington addressed Tehran’s conditions. Iran has sought an end to fighting across the region, including in Lebanon, alongside the lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions on Iranian oil. In return, it has offered to reopen the strait and resume talks on its nuclear programme.
US officials said American forces carried out limited strikes on Qeshm on 2 November after Iranian forces fired at a US aircraft. They described the action as defensive and said it did not signal a return to major combat operations. Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm and nearby areas. The strikes came while Qatar was mediating proposals between the two countries: Washington had expressed hope for a negotiated settlement, but Tehran’s response showed that substantial disagreements remained.
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In short
- Iran says the US response to its ceasefire demands is insufficient.
- US officials describe the Qeshm strikes as limited and defensive.
- The Strait of Hormuz remains central to mediated talks.
How this story developed
- 3 hours ago Iran said on 3 November that the US response to its ceasefire demands was insufficient, as reports emerged of American strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Full account
Iran has described a US proposal for a ceasefire as “insufficient”, while reports emerged of explosions on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The accounts point to a fresh, limited exchange amid diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict and continuing risks to shipping in the region.
Two US officials told ABC News that US forces carried out airstrikes on Qeshm Island on Monday. One said the action was in response to an Iranian attack on a US aircraft. Iran had earlier said it had shot down two RQ-170 reconnaissance drones; a US official disputed that claim. Iranian state media later reported hearing several explosions on the island. The officials characterised the US action as defensive and limited, and said it did not mark a return to major combat operations. US Central Command did not respond to ABC’s request for comment.
Diplomacy remained stalled on Tuesday. Iran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter peace talks only if Washington accepted its seven-point plan. The plan includes demands for the release of frozen assets, the lifting of a blockade on Iranian ports, compensation for damage from bombing and an end to military action, including Israeli attacks in Lebanon. CBS News reported that the US was unlikely to accept most of those terms. Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, urged Iran to show flexibility in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, arguing that restraint and negotiations could help avert a wider escalation.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said it had received a report that two unidentified projectiles hit a tanker’s engine room near Oman’s north-east coast on Tuesday. No injuries or environmental damage had been reported, and the vessel’s operator, origin and destination were unknown. The agency advised ships to proceed cautiously while authorities investigate. Another vessel was reportedly struck near the same area on Sunday. Separately, Saudi Arabia said its forces had intercepted two drones on Tuesday; the Houthis denied responsibility for one reported near Mecca.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
ABC News focuses on the reported US strikes on Qeshm Island, describing them as limited and defensive and citing US officials’ account that they followed an attack on a US aircraft. It also reports that a US official rejected Iran’s claim to have downed two drones.
CBS News focuses on the diplomatic impasse and maritime and regional security incidents. It reports the tanker strike and Egypt’s appeal for flexibility, and sets out Iran’s seven-point conditions. It does not report the Qeshm strikes in the supplied extract.
The reports cover different events and do not independently establish a single account of the Qeshm incident: ABC cites unnamed US officials, while the supplied CBS report centres on separate developments around the Gulf.